Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“I can’t protect myself against the whole Pisano family.”
“Sure, and any number of them could show up here.”
He shook his head. “They’re not going to find me here.”
“Never make assumptions like that about an enemy.”
“Rogue was out there with me.”
“But he wasn’t watching you closely enough to notice you disappearing.”
Carlo grinned. “Obviously not.”
I was going to have a talk with him about that.
Carlo glanced over his shoulder. “He must not have noticed yet. If we work fast, we can get off before he finds me.”
I started to protest, but he cupped my cheeks and tugged me down for another kiss. As soon as his lips touched mine, I pulled him against me and felt his hard cock rub against mine. Carlo fumbled with the waistband of my pants and popped the button. His touch felt so good. I wasn’t sure I cared about how likely we were to be caught, but then I heard something rustle, and the hairs on the back of my neck rose.
I pulled away from Carlo and pressed a finger to his lips. “Someone is out there.”
“It’s probably just Rogue.”
I wished it was, but my gut told me it was someone who didn’t belong here. I scanned the area. I saw a flash of movement far away, but it could have been an animal. Then the roar of an ATV broke the stillness. Carlo rebuttoned my pants and stepped away as Rogue headed up the road by the pasture.
“See?” Carlo pointed to him.
“If Rogue is on an ATV, then he wasn’t watching us from out there.” I gestured toward my cabin.
Carlo frowned. “Maybe you just sensed him coming.”
Was that it? All my instincts said no.
“You won’t let him throw me in the dungeon, will you?”
I rolled my eyes. “The ranch house doesn’t have a dungeon.”
“That’s not what Grant said.”
Rogue pulled up next to us and cut the engine. “What the fuck are you doing here?” he yelled at Carlo.
“You tell me,” I said suddenly furious. “You’re the one who was supposed to be watching him.”
“There was a hole in the fence that looked like it had been cut. I needed to examine it. He promised me he wouldn’t move and that he’d call me if he saw or heard anything.”
“Bodyguards don’t leave the people they are sworn to protect, not for any reason. You could have called someone else to come out.”
“No. Everyone else is busy, and no one ever worried about TJ being left alone.”
“TJ was—”
“Can you two calm down?” Carlo said. “I’m good at getting away. Just ask my brothers.”
Rogue and I turned to look at him.
“Let’s keep this between us, okay? I don’t want Grant imprisoning me in the house, and you don’t want me telling him how easy it was for me to get away, right?”
Rogue narrowed his eyes at Carlo. “I could mention what was going on between you and Blade.”
I snorted. “You’ll tell him you saw two adults talking by the pasture?”
“That’s not what this is.”
“Even if it’s not, what’s Grant going to do, put me in time-out?”
Rogue’s eyes widened, then he grinned. “I like you like this. Maybe Carlo is good for you.”
I was going to regret saying this much. “Maybe you should stay out of it.”
“Yes. I definitely like this side of you.”
I huffed and turned to Carlo. “You should go on back with Rogue.”
“Can’t I stay with you?”
“You have work to do,” Rogue said.
Carlo ignored him, keeping his gaze on me. “Are you going to hide from me again?”
“I don’t know.” He deserved the truth. “I’m not always up for socialization, but I’ll find you when I am.”
I could tell that wasn’t going to satisfy him. “What happened to you?”
“No,” Rogue and I spoke at the same time.
Carlo held up his hands in surrender. “Okay. Okay. Nobody has to tell me.”
The idea of talking about my capture usually filled me with horror, but strangely, I somehow knew it wouldn’t be as hard to tell Carlo as it had been when I’d tried to talk when Grant had demanded answers because he’d wanted to make sure he’d destroyed everyone who’d touched me, no matter the cost to him.
Rhys had spent hours talking him down. Speaking at Grant’s trial had been easier because I would have done anything to help him. No way was I going to let him be punished for coming back for me, for saving me when I was sure I would’ve died in a matter of days, maybe hours.
“Blade, are you all right?” Rogue asked. I nodded and focused on Carlo to help pull me out of my head and back to the reality in front of me.
“I’m fine. I just… kind of lost myself for a minute.”
Rogue nodded. “That’s okay.”
Carlo looked between the two of us, then shrugged. “Who doesn’t space out sometimes?”
I was sure he knew it was more than that, but I appreciated him not questioning me further.